Defending champions John ‘Big John’ Edwards and Randolph Morgan, along with Regional Open champion Mervyn ‘Spongy’ Moses, are confident ahead of the fourth annual IPF/NAPF Caribbean Islands Bench Press and Powerlifting Championships scheduled for March 18-20 at the Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
Edwards, the current Caribbean and Regional record holder in the Squat (342kg) and Bench Press (227.5kg) events, told Stabroek Sport yesterday that the training and plans for the team of 16 are progressing smoothly.
The number one strong man in the 125kg Open and Masters M1 divisions in the Caribbean, Regional and Pan American rankings also, was confident that the home contingent will place first and second in most of the events.
The 42-year-old who won two gold medals in the Men’s Open and Masters M1 categories said that team morale is high and he expects Guyana to win the team championship.
He indicated that all the lifters want to shine more particularly because they will be in front of a home crowd.
On a more personal note, however, Edwards who ranks 30th in the IPF/NAPF listing said that he has not been exerting too much in the gym since he has a niggling knee injury. He assured this publication though that this will not deter him from competing since he intends to defend his titles.
Edwards trains at the Kingsrow Barbell Fitness Club in Thomas Street and he said that he is also working with some members of the team. On the other hand, last year’s debutant at the championships in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands Morgan stated that he has completed his final phase of training and he is focusing on supplementary exercises. These are exercises where not too much of heavy lifting is required but rather they are conducted as a means to strengthen the lesser used muscles.
He said that he wishes to produce an outstanding performance and he will not be underestimating any of his rivals in the 82.5kg category. Morgan, who was born on March 1, 1978, is ranked number 23 in the world and he emphasised that all the other lifters are keen to grab the overall best lifter title he won last year.
He draws his inspiration, however, from the fact that as the champion he has the most pressure on his shoulders to compete at a level to keep his opponents at bay and also keep his title at the end of the competition.
He pointed out that he has been staying focused in the gym and his work ethic there has not changed.
When asked about the healthy rivalry between himself and the much-touted ‘Spongy’ Moses, who missed out on a title last year because of alterations to his body suit, he said that “all the competitors will have to beat him to get the title” because he will be producing his best performance for Guyana.
Morgan also heads the Caribbean, Regional and Pan American rankings in the 82.5kg division.
‘Spongy’ Moses, who was labelled as world class material after last year’s tournament in USVI, said that despite tearing some muscles in his back (Sacrospinalis aka erector spinae) during training last Friday he will be ready for competition on the day. He said he had easily squatted 710lbs but when he was on the up during his attempt at 725lbs he encountered the problem.
When Stabroek Sport saw the footage yesterday of the incident on Friday Moses looked impressive and he said that he is not out of the competition just yet. He said he is serious about training and he was prepared to work hard.
Yesterday, also at the Buddy’s Gym, his back was bandaged and he also wore an icepack. He said that he was given medication and ordered to rest for a while. He said that he is not listening to the utterances of Morgan because he will let his competing do the talking. Moses, who is rated 15th in the world in the 75kg category, said he will be doing what he has to do and competitors and the public can expect a good show.
Moses is also ranked first, second and third in the Regional, Pan American and Caribbean listings respectively.
Moses reported that he and two of his team mates Karel Mars and Richard ‘Mark’ Seymour are taking the competition serious. Mars said that he is anxious to compete in a competition of this magnitude.
Mars, who will be making his debut for Guyana in this year’s tournament, said that he is confident ahead of the competition. He will be competing in the 90kg weight class.
Meanwhile, Guyana also has on its team former Pan American champion and Guyana’s first gold medalist Winston Stoby who is also the 2009 national Masters champion; Berbician Anis Ade Thomas, in the 82.5kg weight class, the first junior to dead-lift over 600lbs in Guyana and Vijai Rahim, also of Berbice in the 56kg class, will be looking to attempt the world sub-junior record at the championships.
The other countries participating in this year’s tournament are British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, United States of America and the USVI.
Guyana’s team reads: John Edwards, Randolph Morgan, Mervyn Moses, Richard Seymour, Winston Stoby, Bhojkumar Jagnarine, Farouk Abdool, Errol Henry, Wazeem Immamdeen, Anis Ade Thomas, Tariq Immamdeen, Vijai Rahim, Kelvin Lewis, Edwin Spencer, Karel Mars and Ryan Williams.
Coach: Wendell ‘Big Mac’ Mc Pherson and Assistant Coach Egbert Jackson.
